Road vehicle



A. c. STEVENSON ROAD VEHICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 SheetS-Shet 2 l Marsh 3, 1936, A.l c. sTEvENsoN ROAD VEHICLE Filed Sept. 18, 1933 March 3, i936. A. c. sTr-:vENsoN ROAD VEHICLE Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MMM STEVENSON ROAD VEHICLE March 3, i936.

Filed Sept. 18, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD VEHICLE Applicati on Septemb Great Britain Se v3 Claims.

This invention relates to road vehicles and more particularly to protective devices or bumpers According to one on self-propelled vehicles.

Vfeature of this i nvention a device of the kind referred to comprises a resilient Wheel tire or a portion or portions of such a tire or tires.

According'to another `feature of this invention a bracket orbrackets are provided which can be attached to the frame or other rigid portions ot the vehicle and are of a portion or portions such form that a tire or of a tire or tires can be readily attached to the bracket or brackets to serve as a bumper,

The tire or portion of the tire employed may consist of the outer cover outer cover of an ordinary pneum or a portion of the atic tire such as used on self-propelled vehicles and such outer cover may consist of a used cover, that is to say one which is so worn as to be unsuitable for further use on a vehicle wheel.

invention therefore used have been waste or scrap By the present tires which hitherto material can be utilized thus providing a cheap and eiectivc bumper. If desirable an iniiated tubular portion may be provided within the outer cover.

ordinary spare wheel may be vehicle as to serve as a bumper or tires formed in sections such as specification of my prior appli- 616522 and corresponding example, in the cation Serial No.

Alternatively, an

so mounted von the the case of described, for

British Patent No. 380163 a number of such sections may be so mounted.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way to the accompanying Fig. 1 is a according to being shown,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the s this invention, chassis to which the bumper is at line 3--3 in of example, with reference drawings in which:-

plan view of one form of bumper a portion of the tached also Fig. 1

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention the view being similar to that shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4

on a larger scale, Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in a spare wheel, the view being Fig. '7 is aisection on the line another embo Fig. 8 shows vention in which two spare all end elevation, 'I-l in Fig. 6, diment of the inwheels are used to vAndrew Creery Stevenson, Fleet, England er 18, 1933, Serial No. 689,993

ptember 30, 1932 form the bumper, the view being similar vto Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 in Fig. V8,

Referring to Figs. l to 3, a portion of the main frame oi the chassis of a self-propelled vehicle line 2 indicating thev is shown at I, the chain extent to which the body of the vehicle projects and the chain lines 3, 3 the mud guards. The portions 4, 4 of the bumper are formed from a single piece of the .reinforced outer cover .of a pneumatic tire, a V portion being cut away at the middle to enable it to take theiorm shovm. The portions 4, 4 are `supported from the frame I of the vehicle by a bracket member 5. Encircling the two portions 4, 4 over the V-cut is a metal band 6 which is secured to the two portions 4, 4 by screws 1., 1. The band 6 and the portions 4, 4v are secured in the bracket` 5 by a bolt 3. The V-cut extends as shown in Fig. 3 down to the bolt 8 and the latter passes through the portions of cover 4, 4 just beyond the reinforcement 9, 9 in the cover. The bracket 5 is secured by screws I0, I0 to a part II which is clamped on the frame I2. The contacting surfaces of the bracket 5 and part II are of spherical form andthe holes for the screws I0, IIJ in the bracket 5 are of larger diameter than the screws, this allowing of adjustment of the position of the bracket 5 with respect to the frame I.

The portions I3 and I4 of the bumper consist of portions inner ends oi the portions I3 and I4 are consecured to the portions of tire by screws I6 and bolts I1. The outer ends of the bumper por- I4 are supported by double armed brackets I8, I8 clamped to the frame I of the vehicle. Intermediate of the ends ofthe portions 4, 4, I3 and I4 the edges. may be held together by bolts such as I9, I9.

To prevent sagging of the bumper between the points of support short lengths of `metal tube or rings may be inserted within the portions 4, 4, I3,

I by -means of a bolt of outer covers of a tire or tires. The

and I4. Such tubes or rings may be split parallel to the axis.

An inflated tube or tubes such as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 may be provided within the outer cover. The inilated tube or tubes consist of a portlon or portions of an ordinary pneumatic tire inner tube or tubes the out ends being sealed by the ordinary method as in repairing a puncture.

The exposed clamping and other metal portions may be nickel or chromium plated and the outer surface of the cover portions may be painted. The bumper can be readily attached to a vehicle and a new cover can be fitted by unskilled persons. At the same time a use is provided for Worn outer covers.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4.- and 5 which is more particularly adapted for larger sized vehicles the portions of outer cover are secured in portions of a metal wheel rim, the rim portions being secured to the frame of the vehicle. Such rim portions may be obtained from discarded wheels. The bumper consists of rim portions 2| and 22 to which are secured portions of tire cover 23 and 24 respectively. 'I'he rim portions are supported from the frame I of the vehicle by members 25, 25 fastened respectively to the two rim portions 2l and 22 by screws and hinged on a pin 26 in a bracket 21 secured to the frame I of the vehicle (the bracket 21 being similar to the bracket 5 in Figs. 1 to 3 and being similarly supported). The two central rim porposition where the hinged members 25 or 28 are attached and bending the rim to the form required.

To stiiTen the whole structure bracing members Fig. 5) secured tothe rim by screws 33. The

butt ends of the spokes are clamped together byA Va clamp consisting of two plates 34 adapted to be drawn together by a bolt 35, the ends of the spokes abutting against this bolt. To allow or channel-shaped members may be provided at other positions along the lengths of the rim portions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs.`V 6 and 7 the bumper embodies a spare wheel shown, assisting the bolts 39 in supporting the skeleton box. yThe two portions 48 of tire rim are braced together by a rod 50 which may be a wheel spoke. The ends of the spoke are secured in members as hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 4l and 5. By unscrewing the bracing member 58 the rim and tire parts 48 and 49 can be turned outwards so that the spare Wheel can be removed or replaced.

In Figs. 8 to 10 an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which two spare wheels or rims and tires are utilized to form the bumper.

plates 5I and 52 with connecting portions 53, 53, and 54. This box is secured to the chassis of the vehicle by bolts 56. Extending between the plates 5I and 52 is a pivot pin or shaft 51 on which are pivoted two members 58 and 59.

in position. By loosening the nut BI from the screw 60 the members 58 and 59 can be swung round to allow either or both of the wheels to be removed or replaced.

Preferably the surfaces of the nut 6I nut 6I being locked in position.

In Fig. 11 another embodiment of the invention is shown in which two spare wheels are held in positlon by means of a strap.

the shock.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 may be modified by omitting the parts 58 and 59 and the screw 60 and nut 6I and lnstead using two straps extending from the pin 51 around the two tires to the parts 53.

Figs. 12 and 13, pneumatic tire units are used to form the bumper. The tire units shown are such as described in connection with Figs. 12 to 14 of my prior application Serial No. 616,522 and corresponding British Patent No. 380,163. The

other and are supported from the frame I of the vehicle by bracing wires or rods 12. The wires 12 are secured at one end to a ring 13 held on a part 14 clamped to the frame I and at the other end are secured to the existing lugs 15 and holes 16 in the tire units. At the sides of the frame brackets 11 may be provided these being formed with spherical seatings on parts 18 clamped to the frame as hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.

The form of the bumper shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may in addition be used as a luggage' carrier and if necessary bracing Wires may be provided extending from the tire units upwards to any .suitable part of the vehicle.

By employing spare wheels or sections of Wheels as bumpers, the usual ttings or spaces for carrying such spares are dispensed with thus giving a neater appearance to the vehicle.

The constructions of bumper hereinbefore described are adaptable for ve 'cles of different sizes and of different contours as the form of the bumper can be readily changed and the desired length obtained by adding or removing one or more sections.

Bumpers according to this invention may be arranged at the sides of a vehicle the use of tire sections being particularly adapted for this purpose.

The various embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described are given merely by Way of example it being obvious that the invention can be carried into effect in Various other Ways.

1. A bumper for a road vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle tire segments, each segment being xed to the vehicle slightly inclined to the horizontal, the centers of said segments lying in a substantially common horizontal plane and being spaced apart a distance less than the length of the tire segment, to provide an impact surface relatively Wide in a vertical plane.

2. A bumper for a road vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle tire segments, each segment being slightly inclined to the horizontal, to provide an impact surface relatively Wide in a vertical plan the centers of said segments lying in a substantially common horizontal plane and being spaced apart a distance less than the length of the tire segment, the concave side of each segment being faced toward the vehicle to position the ends of each segment inwardly of the initial impact surface of the bumper.

3. A bumper for a road vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle tire segments, spaced rods securing each segment to the vehicle, said rods being directed radially from the vehicle to the segments and being closely spaced in a plane beneath the upper edge of said segments to form substantially a surface constituting a luggage carrier.

ANDREW CREERY STEVENSON. 

